Casimirus “Casey” Kurylo, age 78, died peacefully in his Monee home on 7-11-26.
Casey was born 9-26-48 in Heusden, Belgium and migrated with his parents at age 6 to Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Casey was a decorated veteran returning home after serving 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. He was an extremely talented auto mechanic and his honesty earned him a solid reputation. Casey also had a gift for computer programming and enjoyed watching television and movies on his raspberry Pi. Small children and all animals gravitated to this gentle giant like the Pied Piper.

Casey was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Anna, and his brother John. He is survived by his wife Gerri (nee Dandino), his son Andy, his daughter Sherri (Mike) Jongeward and his cat Mewskovich. Casey adored his grandchildren, Sequoia and Wolfram Kurylo. He loved being a one man audience for their magic shows and sneaking their chocolate.

Casey’s final wish was to let everyone know that he died with his full head of hair!

Happy trails Casey…….’till we meet again.

George F. Cuti, age 95 longtime resident of Chicago Heights, Illinois, passed away on July 11, 2026.  Beloved husband of Natalee (Nee Goepfrich).  Loving father of Dean Cuti and Amy (Brian) Sullivan.  Cherished grandfather of Jack, Kiley and Sam.  He was a retired x-ray technician

Arrangement entrusted to Kerr-Parzygnot Funeral Home, 540 Dixie Hwy. (at Joe Orr Rd.), Chicago Heights, IL 60411.  Services are private and the Entombment will take place at Assumption Catholic Cemetery.  Info: (708) 754-0016.

Ronald Sheming  age 81 of the South Suburbs  passed away on July 10, 2026.  Preceded in death by his parents the late Louis sheming and the late Viola Sheming (Nee Kannberg).  Survived by Aunt Elsie Kannberg and cousins and caregivers.  Karen Sheming, Nancy Sheming , Marilyn (Steve) Howard and many other cousins.  He was employed 38 years as a service person at American Lock Company also a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ Monee. He was also a longtime Kiwanis Member and an avid Cubs Fan.   Visitation  Wednesday, July 15, 2026 from 10:00 A.M. until time of Funeral Service 12 Noon at the Monee Funeral Home 5450 Wilson St. (at Governors Hwy.), Monee, IL 60449.  Interment: St. Paul Cemetery Monee, IL.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Lightways Hospice or St. Paul Cemetery Fund.  Info: (708) 534-0016.  Moneefuneralhome.com

Robert “Bob” Armand Cassata, born on November 20, 1942, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 8, 2026. Everyone who met Bob immediately became his friend. He was beloved by so many. He would shower his family and friends with kindness, laughs, and good food.

Bob grew up in Chicago and spent his summers at Pell Lake as a boy, a place that stayed with him his whole life. Some of his happiest memories came from those summers, playing with his family, as he loved to tell it. He’d talk about those times for days on end, right down to taking the city bus to school, always with a smile like it was yesterday.

Bob worked for the Chicago Sun-Times, putting in his time on the docks. He also ran his own lawn care company, Lawn-A-Mat, which came with a nice side benefit: he had the best lawn on the block, and everybody knew it. As a result of all that time working for the newspaper, Bob ended up with hearing aids, which he would sometimes choose not to use, leading to many entertaining phone conversations. He would always joke about what he could and couldn’t hear, always with a twinkle in his eyes and in his voice.

Family was everything to Bob. Bob was completely devoted to his children and especially his grandchildren. He was their biggest cheerleader and supporter, at sporting events, academic events, dance performances, band concerts, and Special Olympic events. He enjoyed his trips to the lake and the resulting adventures that would ensue, many captured brilliantly on film and video for lasting memories, and his many vacations with Tim and Amy and the girls. Ben and Sam brought him such joy and kept him young. They enjoyed mini golfing together and competing to see who could get a hole in one first, which Bob clearly did. Bob would enjoy his visits with the boys and spending time playing various sports in the yard and competitive games of Uno. He made many trips to Virginia to see Daniel and Bridget in various sporting and other endeavors. His visits always brought them such joy, especially how he befriended everyone he met along the way. He was a generous birthday and Christmas gift giver to all the grandchildren, charming many sales clerks as he picked out his thoughtful gifts. Grandpa Bob always ensured that his grandchildren knew how much he loved them. He ended each visit or call with “Grandpa loves ya.”

Bob loved to cook, and his homemade Italian dishes were the ones everyone asked him to bring to family gatherings. His stuffed shells, his meatballs, and his pasta sauce made from his own garden tomatoes were the ones people counted on, and no function felt complete without them. Much of it started in that garden, which he tended with the same care he gave everyone in his life. He took pride in what he grew, and it had a way of ending up on the table, feeding the people he loved.

Bob was an avid reader, so it is only fitting that his final activity was reading his book. He was a devoted library patron, so much so that on multiple occasions he checked out the same book more than once, something he discovered when he found one of his old makeshift bookmarks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Salvatore and Alice Cassata; and his brother-in-law David Smith and sister-in-law Judy Cassata.

He is survived by his loving family, including his five sons: Steve (Jennifer), Pete (Sara), R-J, Tim (Amy), and Joe (Charmaine); his seven grandchildren: Bridget, Daniel, Camille, Emmalyn, Delaney, Samuel, and Benjamin; his sister Rosemary Smith; his brother Richard “Dick” Cassata; and his nieces Allison, Amy, Susan, and Jessica.

In keeping with Bob’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held at a later date, to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Crete Public Library. And if you donate a book, tuck a bookmark inside with a note on it, so a stranger can find it someday and smile. It’s the kind of thing Bob would have loved.

Donations can be made at: https://cretelibrary.org/donating-to-the-crete-public-library/

Claudino “Dino” W. Sanchez

February 15, 2025 – June 25, 2026

Claudino “Dino” W. Sanchez, a bright and beautiful light in the lives of all who knew him, passed away surrounded by his family on June 25, 2026, at the tender age of 16 months. Born on February 15, 2025, to Claudino and Denise (nee Mitchell) Sanchez. Dino brought an abundance of joy, laughter, and pure love into this world during his short but deeply meaningful time with us.

Though his time on Earth was far too brief, Dino’s vibrant spirit left an everlasting mark. He shared an exceptionally close, joyful, and inseparable bond with his three special cousins Shyanna Sanchez, Bradley Middleton, and Hannah Middleton, with whom he shared countless giggles and precious moments of play.

Dino is the beloved grandson of William and Diane Mitchell, and Ruperto Sanchez Ruiz and the late Esperanza Hernandez Rivera. He is also lovingly remembered by his many aunts and uncles, Melanie and Charles Middleton, William and Monica Mitchell, as wells as Julio, Pedro, Ester, Leo, Linda, and Mari. Dino also leaves behind his two half siblings Jarett Sanchez Mancera and Jazlynn Sanchez. He is also survived by many extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory and miss his sweet smile forever.

Service Information:

Family and friends are invited to gather to celebrate Dino’s beautiful life:

• Visitation & Service:Thursday, July 2, 2026
• Time:10:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral service at 2:00 P.M.
• Location:Kerr-Parzygnot Funeral Home 540 Dixie Hwy. (at Joe Orr Rd.)          Chicago Heights, IL 60411 (708) 754-0016
• Interment:To follow immediately at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Steger, Illinois.

Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, the family gently requests that donations be made in Dino’s honor to support other children and families in their time of need:

Pediatric Oncology Department Advocate Christ Hospital Please specify that your gift is in memory of Claudino “Dino” Sanchez.

tinyurl.com/donatefordino

Edward J Cope 58 went home to be with the lord on June 11, 2026 following a motorcycle accident, he was born June 2,1968 to the late Jack Cope and Barbara Peyton   Eddie was born in Crown Point and then raised in Calumet City Illinois then later in life he made his home in Port Clinton, Ohio.  Eddie enjoyed making people feel loved, enjoyed spending time with family and friends and taking late night bike rides Eddie is survived by his son Dalton Cope of Bourbonnais Illinois, brother John (Elaine) Cope, sister Amy Cope of Indiana many nephews and nieces Eddie leaves behind some very special and close friends Angelo & Robyn Anese and Carlos & Deneil Sanchez, Joy and many many more friends.

Visitation Saturday, June 27^th, from 12:00 Noon  until 4:00 P.M.  at Beecher Funeral Home, 602 Dixie Highway, Beecher, IL 60401.  Info. (708) 946-6000.   Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Roy Charles Jackson was the son of Charlie and Maud Jackson, born in Hazel Crest, Illinois. From an early age he was interested in trains, ran a paper route and was involved in Boy Scouts; eventually becoming an Eagle Scout.  Roy was drafted into the Korean War and served for 16 months as an MP.  After serving in the Army, he held several jobs until at the age of 21 he was hired at Illinois Bell (AT&T) where he worked for 38 years.

In 1956 Roy married Twyla Wilson. They enjoyed 70 years of marriage and had three children. The family enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and parts of Canada.  Roy was also an extremely capable handy man and took care of three apartment buildings and two residential homes for many years.  He served in politics as a Committee Man and eventually a Township Supervisor.

As a young man he began to collect toy trains and had one of the best Marx collections in the country. He spent several years researching an extinct Railroad line, authoring a book on the history of that line. Several important libraries keep that book in their archives as a historical record. Roy also enjoyed doing things for the church, such as lighting for programs, painting, maintenance and even helped build the Park Forest South Christian Church in Park Forest South, Illinois. It was common for Roy to reach out and help people in need, especially widows.

Roy lived a full and eventful life. He often said in his last year of life “I’ve had had a good run”. Roy is survived by his wife, Twyla Eileen Jackson and three children Mark Rea Jackson, Kenneth Robert Jackson, Brenda Lee Jackson and eight grandchildren, Ryan Langston, Rachel Jackson, Richard Jackson, Cody Hoger, Sarah Jackson, Samanth Hottinger, Nicole Halson and Annastasia Jackson, as well as three great-grandchildren, Rylan Jackson, Ryder Jackson and Cadance Hottinger.   Roy was a kind and very loved man who will be missed.

Visitation and Service on Monday, June 29, 2026  from 10AM until time of service at 11:00AM at  Monee Funeral Home 5450 Wilson St. (at Governors Hwy.), Monee, IL 60449. Burial to follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.   Info: (708) 534-0016.

Jeffrey L. Scroggs age 59 of St. John, Indiana, passed away suddenly on June 19, 2026.  Beloved son of Donald Scroggs and Nila Scroggs (Nee DeMorrow).  Loving brother of Vickie (John) Stearns.  Cherished uncle of Jessica Schmidt, Lauren and Melany Stearns.  Great uncle of Jameson and Tadum.  Jeffrey was a former member of the Crete area Jaycees and the Brookfield Zoo.  He also enjoyed playing frisbee golf.

Jeffrey will lie in state on Friday, June 26, 2026 from 10:00 A.M. until time of funeral service 12 Noon at Trinity Lutheran Church at 1393 Elizabeth Street, Crete, Illinois. Burial to follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Crete, IL.  Arrangements entrusted to Crete Funeral Home, 1182 Main Street, Crete, IL.   Info: (708) 672-7600 Cretefuneralhome.com

Evangelina “Eva” (Villarreal) Gutiérrez, age 78, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 15, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Eva was born on January 19, 1948, in Weslaco, Texas, to Gilberto and Teodora Villarreal. Although born in Texas, she grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, where she graduated from Rich Central High School and later attended Prairie State College. She carried throughout her life a deep appreciation for family, hard work, and lifelong learning.

It was in Chicago Heights, Illinois, where Eva met and married the love of her life, Felipe J. Gutiérrez. Together, they built a life centered on faith, family, perseverance, and unconditional love. Chicago Heights became the place where they raised their family, built lifelong friendships, and created countless cherished memories. After many years in Illinois, Eva returned to her Texas roots, settling in Round Rock in 2015, where she remained close to her children and grandchildren.

Eva was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Felipe J. Gutiérrez; her parents, Gilberto and Teodora Villarreal; her sister, Norma V. Guerra; and her brother, Eusebio Villarreal.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Leticia “Letty” Schultz and her husband, Michael J. Schultz; her son, Gilberto “Gil” Gutiérrez and his wife, Lidija Tomic Gutiérrez; her cherished grandchildren, Charlie Bujak, Eddie Bujak, Isabella Gutiérrez, and Antonio Gutiérrez; her brothers, Alfredo Villarreal and Luis Villarreal; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever treasure her memory.

Nothing brought Eva greater joy than her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother whose greatest happiness came from spending time with those she loved. She welcomed everyone with warmth, kindness, and a generous spirit that made people feel instantly at home. She loved family gatherings, sharing stories, preserving traditions, and creating memories that will be cherished for generations.

Eva was known for her delicious baking, her infectious smile, her love of a good slot machine, and her remarkable ability to find joy in life’s simple moments. Whether celebrating milestones, offering encouragement during difficult times, or simply enjoying the company of family and friends, she brought comfort and happiness to those around her. Her strength, compassion, faith, and sense of humor touched countless lives.

Though her passing leaves an immeasurable void, her family finds comfort in knowing that her love lives on in the lessons she taught, the traditions she passed down, and the memories she created. Her legacy will continue through her children, grandchildren, and all who were blessed to know her.

Visitation services will be held in both Texas and Illinois.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026 from 4pm to 7pm at Beck Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas.

A second visitation will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kerr Parzygnoy Funeral Home in Chicago Heights, Illinois. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois, at 9 a.m. Interment and additional service details will be announced by the family.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many friends, neighbors, caregivers, and loved ones who offered prayers, support, and compassion throughout Eva’s life and during this difficult time.

Eva’s memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. She will be remembered always, missed dearly, and loved forever.